Villa out for up to five months after striker undergoes successful surgery

Barcelona striker David Villa has had successful surgery on his broken left leg but faces up to five months on the sidelines.

Spain's all-time leading scorer is targeting a return for a possible Champions League final in May before helping his national team defend their European Championship title in Poland and Ukraine in June.

'He has been sending messages to his colleagues and laughing with his wife. I have never seen someone in such good spirits after an operation.'

Villa broke his left tibia while playing in the Club World Cup semi-finals in Japan last Thursday, and specialist Ramon Cugat said the 30-year-old had been suffering beforehand from a stress fracture.

'Some players can finish their professional careers with a stress fracture,' Cugat said.

Crocked: Villa is stretchered from the field after breaking his leg

'Players prefer not to have the operation so as not to lose four or five months. Normally no one wants to have preventative surgery.

'Everyone hopes he will be able to play Euro 2012. It's a little tight for the Champions League final in Munich. If I gave a date for his return I would probably be wrong. It will be his leg that decides.'